Shop Talk: Lon Johnson Takes Over Michigan Democratic Party

Barrales is the first person to hold those positions at the 2-year-old organization. According to a release, “his appointment is part of an aggressive expansion of its political plan, a dramatic increase in GROW’s funding, and the launch of a major effort to elect Latino Republicans at the local, state and federal level.”

The Republican Party has declined in influence in California, in part because of its inability to attract Hispanic voters. National and state GOP leaders hope this group can help change that.

Barrales was a deputy assistant to President George W. Bush and White House director of intergovernmental affairs, where he was responsible for communication with governors, state legislators and local elected officials. Barrales most recently served as president and CEO of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce.

SKDKnickerbocker Hires FTC Staffer

Cecelia Prewett began work Monday at SKDKnickerbocker as a senior vice president.

Previously, she worked at the Federal Trade Commission as director of public affairs and senior policy adviser to Chairman Jon Liebowitz. She was also a Hill staffer to Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y. , and former Reps. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., and Bob Filner, D-Calif.

Eliza Newlin Carney and Kyle Trygstad contributed to this report. Please send news of developments in the political industry to shoptalk@rollcall.com and follow us on Twitter @RCShopTalk.